12.05 Graduate Assistantship Grievance
Any graduate assistant who holds or has held a graduate assistant stipend
and who has a complaint or disagreement concerning his or her assistantship
has the right to try to resolve it using the grievance procedure as outlined
below. Such grievances are restricted to only interpretation or application
of established policies and procedures governing assistantships; the grievance
procedure does not apply to tuition remission and stipend adjustments.
For complete statement of policies governing assistantships, refer to
the Graduate College document #801, available in the Graduate College
Office.
To help the graduate assistant through the entire grievance procedure,
two means of support are available at all times: 1) the Associate Dean
for Student Services is available for consultation, and 2) the graduate
assistant may be accompanied by one representative of his or her choice.
The Graduate College Office is responsible for monitoring the grievance
procedures, both informal and formal; it is that office's role, in part,
to make sure the grievance form is received by the right person at each
of the various steps throughout the formal grievance procedure.
Note that what is outlined below is only the basic structure of the
procedure. You must refer to the University document titled "Grievances--Graduate
Assistants" for complete details; it, too, is available in the Graduate
College Office. Here is the basic procedure:
INFORMAL GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE
The graduate assistant must seek initially to resolve the complaint
or disagreement by informal means. Remember that the Associate Dean for
Student Services is available for consultation, not only with you but
also with your supervisor to help resolve any problems. Resolutions of
complaints and disagreements at the informal level are strongly encouraged.
Due to time restraints on the overall grievance procedure, the informal
procedure should be pursued promptly. To leave enough time, should a formal
grievance be deemed necessary, the informal procedure should be limited
to no more than ten (10) calendar days from when the occurrence of the
grievance is first noted.
FORMAL GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE
If resolution by informal means fails, the graduate assistant may then
initiate the formal grievance procedure. The formal grievance must be
filed within thirty (30) calendar days of the date when the occurrence
of such grievance is first noted (or should have been noted) by the graduate
assistant.
Initial Action
A. Grievant
1. Completes the form titled "Graduate Assistantship Grievance
Form" (available in the Graduate College Office).
2. Returns the completed form to the Graduate College Office within
five (5) calendar days.
Note: Once the formal grievance is filed, subsequent responses from
all parties involved must be recorded in writing and the grievance form
serves as the vehicle for all such responses.
Level I
A. Immediate supervisor
1. Upon receipt of the grievance form, conducts an investigation:
a. grievant is given the opportunity to present his or her case
orally;
2. Indicates his or her resulting disposition and reasons for same
(on grievance form).
3. Returns grievance form to Graduate College Office within five ~5)
calendar days.
Level II
A. Grievant's academic Department Head or Director (if this person is
the grievant's immediate supervisor, the grievant's academic College Dean
fills this role).
1. Upon receipt of the form, conducts an investigation:
a. grievant is given the opportunity to present his or her case
orally
2. Indicates his or her resulting disposition and reasons for same
(on grievance form).
3. Returns grievance form to the Graduate College Office within five
(5) calendar days.
A. Grievant
1. Responds to Department Head's or Director's (College Dean's) decision:
a. if satisfied, "hereby accept" is marked,
b. if not satisfied, "hereby decline" is marked.
2. Returns grievance form to Graduate College Office within five (5)
calendar days.
Level III
A. Graduate Dean
1. Upon receipt of the grievance form, conducts an investigation:
a. grievant is given the opportunity to present his or her case
orally.
2. Indicates his or her resulting disposition and reasons for same
(on grievance form).
3. Returns grievance form to Graduate College Office within ten (10)
calendar days.
B. Grievant
1. Responds to Graduate Dean's decision:
a. if satisfied, "hereby accept" is marked,
b. if not satisfied, "hereby decline" is marked.
2. Returns grievance form to Graduate college Office within five (5)
calendar days.
Level IV
A. Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost
1. Upon receipt of the form, conducts an investigation:
a. grievant is given the opportunity to present his or her case
orally,
2. Indicates his or her resulting disposition and reasons for same
(on grievance form).
3. Returns grievance form to Graduate college office within ten (10)
calendar days.
A decision at Level IV is considered the final internal remedy. For
any subsequent action, refer to a copy of the Board of Regents Procedural
Guide under the section titled "Appeals by Employees to Board"
(available in the Graduate College Office). | 
